Joy Tacon

Joy Tacon (born 2 June 1961) is a British former professional tennis player.

Tacon was born in 1961 and is a graduate of Wycombe Abbey School. She attended the University of Houston on a tennis scholarship. At the 1985 University Games in Kobe, she teamed up with Liz Jones to win a silver medal for Great Britain in doubles.

A right-handed, Tacon competed on the professional tour from 1984 to 1988, reaching a career high ranking of 180 in the world. She twice received a wildcard into the singles main draw at Wimbledon and fell in the first round to seeded players both times, Kathy Jordan in 1985 and Hana Mandlíková in 1986. Her best Wimbledon performance was a second round appearance in the women's doubles at the 1985 Wimbledon Championships losing to Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver. However, she also reached the first round in both the 1986 and 1988 Championships for doubles as well as qualifying and getting through to the first round in the mixed doubles with Mike Walker. They lost to Steffi Graf and Pavel Složil in that, the first, round of the 1988 Wimbledon Championships

After concluding her professional tennis career, Tacon set up the tennis programme at Putney High School, where she taught A-Level Economics (1990-1994). Additionally, she also set up the Young Enterprise scheme at Putney High, where it continues today.

From 1994-2003, she worked as the managing director of Smith Bernal International where, she set up the company from a base of operations in Hong Kong to provide court reporting and technology for litigation lawyers. Smith Bernal was acquired by Merrill Legal Solutions in 1997 and subsequently expanded throughout Asia, Australia and Hong Kong. From 2003-2007 she worked as a consultant for the aforementioned company.

Furthermore, since 1992–present she has been the managing director of a private property company and recently (2019–present) started working with Yoke, a Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultancy for the Public and Private Sector.

ITF finals Doubles: 12 (5–7) Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents ScoreLoss 1. 24 September 1984 Bol, Yugoslavia Clay Martina Reinhardt Miluše Dosedělová Karmen Škulj 3–6, 4–6Win 1. 15 October 1984 Haifa, Israel Hard Martina Reinhardt Elizabeth Ekblom Marianne van der Torre 6–2, 7–5Loss 2. 20 May 1985 Bath, United Kingdom Clay Belinda Borneo Elna Reinach Monica Reinach 3–6, 3–6Win 2. 18 November 1985 Cheshire, United Kingdom Carpet Belinda Borneo Regina Rajchrtová Jana Novotná 6–2, 6–3Loss 3. 19 April 1986 Cumberland, United Kingdom Hard Monica Reinach Jane Wood Belinda Borneo 4–6, 3–6Win 3. 27 April 1986 Hatfield, United Kingdom Hard Monica Reinach Catrin Jexell Helena Olsson 6–1, 5–7, 6–3Loss 4. 7 November 1986 Queens, United Kingdom Grass Lorrayne Gracie Sally Timms Katie Rickett 4–6, 3–6Loss 5. 16 August 1987 Koksijde, Belgium Clay Kathleen Schuurmans Sabine Appelmans Caroline van Renterghem 7–6(2), 2–6, 6–7(3)Loss 6. 9 November 1987 Eastbourne, United Kingdom Carpet Pascale Etchemendy Eugenia Maniokova Natalia Medvedeva 1–6, 1–6Win 4. 23 April 1988 Queens, United Kingdom Clay Anne Simpkin Lesley O'Halloran Lone Vandborg 4–6, 6–2, 7–6Win 5. 8 May 1988 Bournemouth, United Kingdom Clay Anne Simpkin Sally Godman Alexandra Niepel 6–3, 6–3Loss 7. 15 May 1988 Bath, United Kingdom Clay Anne Simpkin Sally Godman Alexandra Niepel 3–6, 2–6

Personal life

Joy Tacon is sister of Christine Tacon CBE